150 ACCIDENTS TO THE GREYHOUND. 



RUPTURES. 



RUPTURES at the navel are exceedingly common in the grey- 

 hound, especially among bitches. They can seldom be detected 

 before the third or fourth week after birth, and when small, may 

 often be cured by directing the kennel-man, after every feeding, 

 to press them up into the belly with his finger. Nothing conduces 

 more to this malformation than the practice of handling puppies 

 especially after feeding. When the rupture already exists, the 

 puppy ought never to be lifted at all, or, if absolutely necessary, 

 then by the tail only. When the puppy is raised in this way, the 

 tendency is to draw the protruded bowel back again into its place, 

 and consequently no harm is done ; but by letting him lean all 

 his weight upon the hand placed under the chest, as is too often 

 done, the strain upon the delicate structures which close 

 the opening at the navel is too great, and they give way, 

 causing the rupture. It would be easy to remedy this defect 

 by operation, but that the tendons here are so thin as to prevent 

 the possibility of gathering them up by a needle without abso- 

 lutely transfixing them. This is especially the case in the young 

 puppy; and in older dogs, though the textures become thicker, 

 the resistance of the animal also would be greater, and without 

 chloroform would foil all the efforts of the operator. I once 

 operated on a large and powerful dog, which had a rupture from 

 an accident in the side of the belly, and increasing to a great size 

 on any exertion. My intention was to open the sac, replace the 



